RX Patient Tools
Use these quick guides before reading the article, or return to them when you need help preparing questions for a doctor.
Your kitchen is obviously one of the busiest rooms in your home if not the busiest. A lot of activities going on within the house are powered from this space and keeping everything neat and in order is undoubtedly very important. Your kitchen countertops are very important and should be kept sparkling clean as a way of maintaining hygiene and making the presentable.
However, the method of cleaning your countertops and sinks should be well thought out in order to avoid possible damages and prolong its lifespan. Your countertop should be cleaned naturally as this is the best way to maintain the natural appearance of the material and also avoid any toxic material from being left on the surface.
Cleaning the countertop naturally will also help you save money and avoid any kind of air pollution. Here are some tips to help clean different types of countertops irrespective of the material used:
1. Know the countertop material
First of all, know the kind of material used on the countertop before even starting with the cleaning process. Different countertop materials require different approaches and the only way to do it right is for you to understand the material first.
For example, the method used for butcher clock wood countertops is different from the one used for granite or marble countertops. As such, know the material and establish whether using a lot of water, for example, would do any harm to the countertop.
2. Always wipe dirt immediately
One of the very first ways to keep your countertop clean and hygienic is to wipe any dirt and spills immediately after use. This will help prevent the food particles and other substances from sticking thus making your work easier and faster.
Whenever you knead or blend something and there are spillages, do not allow them much time to settle but instead wipe them immediately. By so doing, you will also avoid cases of staining on the countertop material.
3. Use a soft cloth or towel
Whether you are cleaning a marble or a glass countertop, using an abrasive cleaning material will result in unwanted damaged of the surface. Countertop materials such as marble, granite, soapstone and other natural stones can be very delicate and using anything abrasive while cleaning will wear them out slowly or cause scratches to develop on their soft surface.
You should use at least two soft pieces of towels for the cleaning, one which should be wet and the other one dry for draining the water completely. In case some spills have stuck on the surface, first of all soften them by pouring some water and then wipe gently.
4. Use your simple kitchen products as disinfectants
You do not need to spend money buying cleaning products from the local stores or elsewhere. When you need to clean the kitchen countertop, simple products such as lemon, baking soda and your usual dish soap will work perfectly well.
Lemon in particular is a strong cleaning agent and perfectly disinfects any surfaces where it’s used. You will be eliminating any bacteria by using such on the countertop surface thus ensuring hygiene is maintained as you prepare your food.
5. Remove stains promptly
Stains are not a new phenomenon when it comes to kitchen countertops. Due to the different types of spills that normally occur during the food preparation processes, you will find that your countertop has some spots which are not easy to remove by simple wiping.
These should not be allowed to remain on the countertop for long and the good news is that you can remove them naturally. As a rule of thumb, you should never use any kind of bleach to remove such stains no matter how stubborn they seem.
Doing this will only discolor your countertop material and expose it to more damages. When cleaning any kind of stain from a stainless steel countertop for example, you should be able to use a simple baking soda paste which is able to do an amazing work.
Just sprinkle the baking soda and then allow it to settle for a while before gently scrubbing with a wet cloth and then rinse with clean water. You can also use vinegar when dealing with stains on quartz and other materials. Rub and repeat the process until the stains disappear.
This process can also be used to successfully remove stain on different kitchen islands that are discussed in Village Bakery.
Final Words
Having a thoroughly cleaned kitchen countertop is a sure way to maintain hygiene and health for you and your family. You should have a regular schedule for cleaning your countertops to make sure they remain spotless. In case your countertop is made of natural stone, make sure it’s sealed regularly to prevent against stains. At the same time, you should avoid the use of citrus cleaners when dealing with natural stone.
